title: [Physiopathological link between polycystic ovary syndrome and hyperprolactinemia: myth or reality?].
abstract: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hyperprolactinemia are the two most common etiologies of disorders of the cycle in women. In clinical practice, it is not unusual to find hyperprolactinemia associated with clinical, hormonal and ultrasound features of PCOS. However, currently, there is no evidence of a pathophysiological link between these two entities. Thus, this association seems to be fortuitous. Therefore, hyperprolactinemia in women with PCOS must lead to etiological investigations, including eliminating macroprolactinemia (excess of "big prolactin" and/or "big-big prolactin"). Finally, symptomatic hyperprolactinemias (excluding macroprolactinemia) can "mask" an underlying PCOS through a gonadotropic inhibition. Moreover, symptomatic hyperprolactinemias can provide clinical and ultrasound features of a "moderate" PCOS. Therefore, in agreement with the consensus of Rotterdam, PCOS must remain a diagnosis of exclusion, after eliminating symptomatic hyperprolactinemias (excluded macroprolactinemia) and all other etiologies of hyperandrogenism.
authors.affiliation: Service de gynécologie endocrinienne et médecine de la reproduction, hôpital Jeanne-de-Flandre, CHRU de Lille, avenue Eugène-Avinée, Lille cedex, France. geoffroy.robin@chru-lille.fr
authors.forename: Geoffroy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Robin
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catteau-Jonard
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dewailly
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis